Whether you are converting a humble 1st
Level Character or a mighty 20th Level Character,
or anything in between you need to know
how many Character Points you have available
to you. This document provides a means to
determine this, but check with your GM prior
to making your character as they may be
using some other determinant.

D&D 3e 1st Level Characters

This conversion assumes that a D&D 3e
"1st Level" starting character
has the equivalent of up to 125 starting
Character Points in the HERO System. The
below chart illustrates this.

Following is a chart for converting higher
level Characters from D&D 3e. This chart
can also be used in reverse as a benchmark
& comparison tool, allowing you to determine
what Character Level your HERO System Character
equates to in D&D 3e terms.

To use the chart, simply find your D&D
3e Character's total combined level and
look across to the Character Points column
to see how many points you have to play
with in the HERO System. Don't forget to
give yourself an appropriate prorated amount
of additional Character Points for any X.P.
your character has beyond the minimum required
for their Level.

D&D 3e to HERO System Level to Character
Points Conversion

D&D 3e
Character
Level

Base Points

Max
Disadvantage
Points

Experience
Points

HERO System
Total Points

1

50

75

0

125

2

50

75

15

140

3

50

75

30

155

4

50

75

45

170

5

50

75

60

185

6

50

75

75

200

7

50

75

90

215

8

50

75

105

230

9

50

75

120

245

10

50

75

135

260

11

50

75

150

275

12

50

75

165

290

13

50

75

180

305

14

50

75

195

320

15

50

75

210

335

16

50

75

225

350

17

50

75

240

365

18

50

75

255

380

19

50

75

270

395

20

50

75

285

410

MAGIC ITEMS, PROPERTY, AND OTHER COMPLICATIONS

Step 5: Gear, Followers, and Property
discusses how to convert such things into
the HERO System, and allows for a certain
amount of extra Character Points beyond
those represented on the above chart to
do it with.

COST CONSIDERATIONS

However many Character Points you have available,
they are the means by which you will purchase
a Race Package, Characteristics, abilities,
and possibly other character elements as
well, so manage them wisely.

Remember that one of the key concepts behind
any point based role playing game is that
each cost paid also has an opportunity cost
associated with it. If you spend too much
on ability A, you might not have enough
points to get ability B. In other words,
in addition to the cost of ability A, you
might also lose the opportunity to get ability
B.

Exercise frugality when buying Character
abilities and remember that in a point based
system it is generally better to start off
mediocre at a broad range of things and
improve them with Experience than it is
to start off overly specialized at one thing
and be otherwise useless due to Character
Point shortfalls.

When you are finished determining how many
Character Points you have available for
your Character's conversion, move on to
Step 2.